For the post-COVID-19 era, guests can enjoy the ultimate “vacation away” style travel experience with an international cultural exchange journey at sea.
HONG KONG – The first international cruise company to resume operations, Dream Cruises re-started its operations of Explorer Dream on July 26 in Taiwan with island-hopping itineraries out of Keelung to Penghu, Matsu, Kinmen and Hualien. With twenty two sailings successfully completed in the past two months, over 25,000 guests have treated themselves to a long-awaited holiday at sea, enjoying a “vacation away” style travel experience with Dream Cruises. In response to the overwhelming market response to the island-hopping itinerary, the company has now launched brand new “Discover Taiwan” cruises on board Explorer Dream, with 1- to 5-night itineraries from Keelung to Anping in Tainan, Penghu, Kaohsiung and Hualien, as well as sightseeing cruises to view the “Milky Sea” that surrounds Guishan Island in Yilan and the Keelung Islet. Guests can discover the beauty of Taiwan under the new norm of post-COVID era cruising with total peace of mind.
Mr. Kent Zhu, President of Genting Cruise Lines said, “We are proud that Explorer Dream, the first cruise ship to resume operations after the global industry shutdown, has been operating in Taiwan for nearly twomonths without any incident and has garnered high scores in terms of passenger satisfaction. As global travel continues to be put on a hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are seeing a pent up demand among travel enthusiasts to satisfy their wanderlust. We are confident that our “Discover Taiwan” cruises on Explorer Dream will bring about a new trend of the “vacation away” style travel experience without having to leave home, through which they can explore the beauty of Taiwan by sea, and with total peace of mind.”
Explorer Dream’s “Discover Taiwan” cruises include a 5-night itinerary from Keelung to the four scenic destinations of Anping in Tainan, Penghu, Kaohsiung and Hualien, allowing travelers to visit some of the most iconic destinations on the main island and outlying islands without the hassle of packing and unpacking or catching connections. The voyage is also a golden opportunity to enjoy the spectacular Penghu Bay International Light Festival from a panoramic and unobstructed vantage point at sea.
For those who prefer shorter trips, 4-night and 3-night cruises to Penghu, Kaohsiung and Hualien, or 2-night getaways to Anping in Tainan are available, where the cruise terminal will be transformed into a traditional market featuring local delicacies and specialty souvenirs. Other highlights of the “Discover Taiwan” itineraries include a 1-night cruise around the Keelung Islet and Guishan Island in Yilan, known for its “Milk Sea”, a natural phenomenon caused by the combination of seawater and a saltwater hot spring; as well as a 2-night sightseeing cruise to the turquoise waters surrounding Ishigaki Island.
A cruise holiday on board Explorer Dream allows travel enthusiasts to take in scenic destinations in Taiwan while enjoying panoramic views of the ocean and skies, perfect for a unique treat to be shared with friends and family during festive occasions. In collaboration with the Korea Tourism Organization, Dream Cruises will host a series of Korean-themed festivities aboard Explorer Dream from September 30 to October 6, starting with an authentic Chuseok Korean harvest festival experience with traditional Korean delicacies, dance and music on the mid-autumn festival sailing, which will also featrue traditional Chinese mid-autumn festival customs, such as lantern riddles and mooncake making workshops. Guests who sail on Explorer Dream’s inter-island cruise to Anping, Tainan departing on October 9 will celebrate the Double Ten Day long weekend with a spectacular fireworks display in the skies above Yuguang Island of Tainan on October 10.
Guests can further experience the world with unique international activities on board Explorer Dream. Oktoberfest festivities will take place on October 7-8, where guests can enjoy traditional Bavarian dance and music, delicacies such as bratwurst and pork knuckle, as well as interactive activities like beer drinking contests and the giant beer pong.
To celebrate the National Day of Spain in mid-October, guests can experience flamenco dance and Sangria tutorials, as well as traditional Tapas, the country’s famous bite-sized morsels of Spanish delicacies. Guests will be invited to don their favorite polka dot or traditional Flamenco outfits to join Explorer Dream’s Flamenco Night, where they can indulge in traditional Spanish cuisine, music and professional performances of flamenco dance.
Festivities in October will wrap up with a big Halloween party on October 30-31, where guests will be in for spooky “monstrous” surprises, and children can get ready for trick-or-treating at sea with complimentary face painting. Diwali celebrations will take place on November 13-14, where guests will learn traditional dances, as well as enjoy interactive workshops on paper lantern making and Mehndi Hand Coloring.
To safeguard the health and safety of guests, extensive preventive measure will be in place throughout the ship including social distancing measures with theatres and recreational facilities operating at reduced capacity, sanitization of the theatre before and after each show, cleaning and disinfection of all toys, games and Little Dreamers Club facilities at least twice daily and after every use, as well as disinfection of recreational equipment once every 2 hours and before guest usage.
All of Genting Cruise Lines’ ships, including Explorer Dream, allow for 100% external fresh air to be filtered and supplied to each passenger cabin as well as on board public areas ensuring a constant and healthy flow of fresh air throughout the cruise ship. As confirmed and endorsed# by Dr. Chen Jia-kun, Associate Professor, Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Taiwan University, Explorer Dream is equipped with a positive pressure system that allows the continuous exhaust of air to the outdoors, which ensures that only filtered fresh air can enter the interior of the cruise ship; every stateroom and public area is also equipped with standalone air ventilation systems, as well as separate vents for fresh air supply and exhaust, which guarantees that the air will not re-circulate and prevent cross-contamination between staterooms and public areas.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
